Pava

Pava was a city in ancient India, at the time of Gautama Buddha. It was a city of the Mallas which the Buddha visited during his last journey, going there from Bhogagama and staying at Cunda's mango grove. Pava is located about 15 kilometres east of Kusinara, in Uttar Pradesh state of India.

Cunda lived in Pává and invited the Buddha to a meal, which proved to be his last. It was on this occasion that the Cunda Sutta was preached [SNA.i. 159] . From Pává the Buddha journeyed on to Kusinara, crossing the Kakkuttha on the way [D.ii.126 ff.; Ud.viii.5; the road from Pává to Kusinara is mentioned several times in the books Vin.ii.284; D.ii.162.]

According to the Sangíti Sutta, at the time the Buddha was staying at Pává, the Mallas had just completed their new Mote hall, Ubbhataka, and, at their invitation, the Buddha consecrated it by first occupying it and then preaching in it. After the Buddha had finished speaking, Sariputta recited the Sahgíti Sutta to the assembled monks.

Pává was also a centre of the Niganthas and, at the time mentioned above, Nigantha Nathaputta had just died at Pává and his followers were divided by bitter wrangles [D.iii.210] . Cunda Samanuddesa was spending his rainy season at Pává, and he reported to the Buddha, who was at Samagama, news of the Niganthas' quarrels [Ibid., 117f.; M.ii.243f] .

The distance from Pává to Kusinára was three gavutas. It is said [UdA.403] that on the way between these two places, the Buddha had to stop at twenty five resting places, so faint and weary was he.

Mention is made in the Udana [i.7] of the Buddha having stayed at the Ajakapálaka cetiya in Pává. This may have been during a previous visit.

After the Buddha's death, the Mallas of Pává claimed a share in his relics. The Brahmin Dona satisfied their claim, and a Stupa was erected in Pává over their share of the relics [D.ii.167; Bu.xxviii.3] .

The inhabitants of Pává are called Páveyyaká.

Pává was the birthplace of Khandasumana.

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